Many communities along the U.S. East Coast have started to evacuate in anticipation of Hurricane Irene, which is expected to gain Category 4 strength this afternoon. Major cities like Washington, Philadelphia, New York and Boston are located right in storm’s projected path,  leaving millions of Americans concerned about hurricane insurance, disaster preparedness and what they just might come home to should they choose to evacuate.

Fortunately, now more than ever, homeowners have access to building products and materials created to withstand extreme weather conditions, giving them a fighting chance against unforeseen catastrophes like Hurricane Irene.

Storms like Irene are why Marvin Windows and Doors offers its StormPlus products, which offer all the luxury and elegance Marvin is known for, but the brute strength to take on hurricane winds upwards of 140 miles per hour. For instance, the Impact Zone 3 products were created for coastal areas along the Gulf of Mexico and the East Coast. All IZ3 products are tested to endure wind-borne debris and intense changes in pressure. As a show of strength, IZ3 products must endure an 8-foot 2 x 4 stud shot at 50 feet per second.

To better understand the importance of a fortified home and disaster preparedness, we recommend visiting disastersafety.org for tips on weathering Hurricane Irene and future storms to come. Among other things, they have created this video that shows what hurricane-force winds can do to a home whose windows break compared with a home whose windows stay intact.

We sure hope everyone out there is safe!

For our readers in southern coastal regions, hurricane season is always a time for concern. And no matter your location, any sort of severe weather can be cause for concern. We might not be in the thick of hurricane season yet, but it’s never too early to begin your storm-proofing your home.

According to CNN.com’s Gerri Wilson, there are some relatively easy steps that can be taken to make your home as ready as possible for hurricane and storm season. Here are a few:

Get your things inside. Take all the furniture and other outdoor equipment you might have on your patio or deck and bring them inside when strong weather threatens. This also includes trash cans, grills, toys and potted plants. It’s important to keep them from becoming flying objects that can cause additional injury or damage during storms with high winds.

Check your trees. Checking for damage or disease in the trunk or major limbs of your trees before storm season hits is important. They may be near power lines or leaning too severely, which makes them more vulnerable during storms, so they should be looked at and the proper authorities should be contacted if damage or disease is seen. This is a step that could be considered now and it’s a significant step to be taken.

As for windows, Wilson suggests that if you live in a storm-prone area, you may want to think about installing impact-resistant windows designed to withstand flying debris. Marvin’s StormPlus windows and doors meet coastal impact standards and are available in a wide array of beautiful styles.

Photo courtesy of CoreBurn on Flickr